Uniform pan holder assembly method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a uniform pan holder assembly adapted to receive a drywall pan and including a support having a pair of uprights spanning a cross member and terminating at an arcuate edge, the uprights and cross member defining a supporting area. Each arcuate edge is generally associated with the top edge and adapted to retain the pan within the supporting area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the prior filed U.S. provisionalapplication No. 60/936,651 filed on Jun. 22, 2007 which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to holders for containers. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to a hand held device adapted to store avariety of troughs for use by a variety of workers, such as dry wallfinishers and plasterers, while working with dry wall materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When finishing drywall, seams between the individual sheets of drywallare taped and spackled, and the nail heads or drywall screws arespackled to conceal the joints and the nails or screws. During thecourse of finishing the drywall, a drywall finisher is required to tapeboth wall and ceiling joints. This requires the finisher to have onehand free to manipulate the tape and the other hand free to control theblade used to apply the spackling compound. A spackling pan or mud panis usually a trough which generally holds a desired amount of spacklingmaterial and must be carried while spackling nails or screws.

The spackling process, which depending on the project parameters, mayrequire an extended period of time during which the finisher is requiredto hold the trough using their hand or arm causing the finisher tobecome tired or weary from carrying the pan. In addition, during thespackling process, a user may desire to rotate or otherwise manipulatethe trough to work the compound to the proper consistency using one handto hold a spackling tool which helps to work the compound while anotherhand is used to rotate the trough. In addition, the finisher may desireto shape the compound within the trough for application of the compoundto the drywall surface. Manipulation of the trough may be awkward orbecome difficult over time for some finishers. In some cases, two handsmay be required to rotate the trough to the desired position. While someattempts to address these concerns have included attaching the trough toa belt or use the trough in a hands-free operation, these attempts havenot addressed the fact that some finishers desire to manipulate thetrough in various orientations during the spackling process.

Additionally, not all commercially available drywall pans have the sameshape and size. While some prior art holders have been developed, aholder which accommodates the variety of pan shapes and sizes is aproblem which has not been adequately solved. Therefore, it would be afurther benefit to provide a uniform pan holder assembly which couldaccommodate a variety of pan shapes and sizes without the need to chancethe pan holder device.

In addition, during the spackling process, the finisher uses a smoothsurface provided by the spackling tool to apply and smooth the compoundupon the drywall. During use, the compound may dry upon the smoothsurface of the spackling tool making it difficult to use the tool toapply and smooth the compound upon the drywall. Also, periodically, itmay be necessary to temporarily free one hand from holding the troughand the spackling tool. However, these needs are typically onlytemporary and after which the finisher usually goes right back tofinishing the spackling process. Placing the tool or the trough on theground or other nearby surface may not be advantageous because of debrisor other concerns presented by such surfaces. While some attempts toresolve these concerns include providing a storage location within astandard tool belt or other waist attachment devices, over time andafter a number of attempts to clean or store the tool, the debrisadheres against the waist and fouls the attachment devices.

It would therefore be beneficial to provide a uniform pan holderassembly receiving a pan and drywall tool for retrievable storage duringthe drywall process which is ergonomic, easy to use or manufacture, andwhich is compact and convenient to carry during the drywall process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention reduces the difficulties and disadvantages of theprior art by providing a simple, easy to use, device and method for auniform pan holder assembly adapted for receiving a pan having a topedge and bottom surface, said uniform pan holder assembly including asupport having a pair of uprights spanning a cross member andterminating at an arcuate edge, said pair of uprights and cross memberdefining a supporting area. Each arcuate edge is generally associatedwith the top edge and adapted for retaining said pan within saidsupporting area. Alternatively and additionally, the invention includesa uniform pan holder assembly in combination with a pan having a topedge and a bottom surface along with a drywall tool, said uniform panholder assembly adapted to receive said pan and said drywall toolretrievably stored within said uniform pan holder assembly, saidcombination comprising said pan and said support device including a pairof uprights spanning a cross member having an upper and lower arm inspaced relation and forming a v-shaped slot adapted for releasablyreceiving said drywall tool, wherein each said upright extendsvertically from said cross member and terminates at an arcuate edge,said pair of uprights and cross member defining a supporting areaadapted for receiving said pan, said arcuate edge adapted for releasablyengaging said top edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the uniform pan holder assembly inreceipt of a pan and a drywall tool.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the uniform pan holder assemblyspaced from the pan and drywall tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a uniform pan holder assemblyillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 a is a magnified partial elevation, perspective view of thearcuate edge illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 b is a magnified partial elevation, perspective view of av-shaped slot illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 a is a side elevational view of a uniform pan holder assembly ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 b is a side elevational view of the uniform pan holder assemblyof FIG. 1 in receipt of the pan.

FIG. 4 c is a sectional view of a uniform pan holder assembly from FIG.3 in receipt of the drywall tool and the pan.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the uniform pan holder assembly of FIG.4 a in receipt of the pan.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the uniform pan holder assembly of FIG. 4 ain receipt of the pan.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of theuniform pan holder assembly.

FIG. 8 is a magnified sectional view of the uniform pan holder assemblytaken from FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I. Introduction.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriately detailed structure.

II. Uniform Pan Holder Assembly.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention, a uniformpan holder assembly is generally indicated by reference numeral 20,shown in combination with a pan 2 and drywall tool 10.

The uniform pan holder assembly 20 generally includes a support area 22for receiving the pan 2 in a generally horizontal orientation, thesecured drywall tool 10 positioned therebelow for ready access to thedrywall tool 10, pan 2 and any contained material during the drywallprocess. The uniform pan holder assembly 20 may be fabricated from asemi-rigid material such as, but not limited to plastic, wood, steel,aluminum or fiberglass.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2 with the pan 2 and drywall tool 10partially drawn away from the uniform pan holder assembly 20, thesupport area 22 generally includes a pair of uprights 32 spaced apartand extending vertically from a cross member 34. There are a variety ofcommercially available pans adapted for receiving and working withsheetrock many have different dimensions and sizes. The support area 22of the uniform pan holder assembly 20 is configured for receiving andsupporting these variety of pans with a pair of uprights 32 beingangularly orientated with respect to the cross member 34. The pair ofuprights 32 are illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 with a vertical bias, theupright pair 32 allowing for horizontal rotation, thereby expanding thesupport area for receipt of the pan 2. FIG. 2 further illustrates anarcuate edge 40 associated with a distal end of each of the pair ofuprights 32.

The pan 2 is generally illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 with a bottom surface 6separated from a top edge 4 by a sidewall 8 extending around thecircumference of the bottom surface 6, the pan 2 being generally adaptedto receive a drywall compound (not shown) used in the drywall process.In relation to a user, the pan 2 generally has trapezoidal configurationwith the sidewalls 8 being further referred to based upon theorientation to the uniform pan holder assembly 20 with a front 2 a andrear 2 b separated by a pair of sides 2 c, the front 2 a and rear 2 bbeing generally parallel and the sides 2 c extending vertically from thebottom surface 6 towards the top edge 4.

The pan 2, illustrated in FIG. 3, is engaged by the arcuate edges 40associated with the distal end of the pair of uprights 32. Moreparticularly, the arcuate edges 40 engage the top edge 4 while the pan 2is received within the supporting area 22. Once engaged by the arcuateedges 40, the pan 2 is securely positioned for use during the drywallprocess. In addition, the pair of uprights 32, having a vertical bias,may upwardly urge the pan 2 for regular engagement between the pan 2 andthe arcuate edge 40.

The uprights 32, illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, utilize an elongatedstructure extending from the cross member 34 towards the arcuate edge40, returning towards the cross member 34, although other configurationsmay also be utilized. The pair of uprights 32 and cross member 34 aregenerally constructed of a semi-rigid material which provides forangular rotation of the pair of uprights 32 with respect to the crossmember 34 for releasable receipt of the pan 2. As illustrated, the pairof uprights 32 and cross members 34 utilize an elongated, resilient yetpliable material, such as steel rod or wire. The cross member 34 andpair of uprights 32 could also be fabricated from plastic or composite,i.e., carbon and/or glass material, etc., having the requisitedeflection and strength characteristics and capabilities, and beingadapted for supporting the pan 2, while providing flexibility forreleasable receipt of the pan 2. Assuming that a desired plasticmaterial has the springiness, deflection and strength required, suchmaterial could be substituted for formed and bent steel. By semi-rigid,it is meant that the material is capable of remaining substantiallystraight and substantially vertical when no force is applied against orto the uprights 32 or cross member 34. However, the pair of uprights 32may be rotated with respect to the cross member 34, under an appliedforce for manipulating the support area 22 into receiving the pan 2.Preferably, the pair of uprights 34 are provided with the properorientation and amount of flexibility to ensure that various sized pans2 may be used with the uniform pan holder assembly 20.

The pan 2 is generally recessed within the support area 22 during use ofthe uniform pan holder assembly 20. In operation, a user may hold theuniform pan holder assembly by the handle 44 in a generally horizontallyorientation with the pair of uprights 32 extending vertically upwards.The pan 2 may be positioned in the support area 22 by rotating eitherone or both of the pair of uprights 32 outwardly, providing an enlargedsupport area 22 for receipt of the pan 2.

Alternatively as illustrated in FIGS. 7-8, the an alternative pan holderassembly 220 may be utilized which has a pair of uprights 234 includinga vertically rotational structure whereby the upright 234 has distal end234 a separated by a proximate end 234 b, the distal end 234 beinggenerally associated with the arcuate edge 240, the proximate end 234 bassociated with a cross member having an upper arm 236 and a lower arm238. In addition, the proximate end 234 b presents a socket forreceiving the ridged structure 234 c of the distal end 234 a oppositethe arcuate edge 240. In this configuration, the arcuate edge 240 may berotated for receipt of the pan 2 along the upper arm 236.

Upon receipt of the pan 2 by the uniform pan holder assembly 20, thebottom surface 6 is positioned near or over the cross member 34. Oncethe pan is received within the support area 22, the uprights may returnto their biased orientation. Depending on the size and shape of the pan2, the pair of uprights 32 may rest against the side 2 c, urging the topedge 4 upward for engagement by the arcuate edges 40. During operation,the pair of uprights 32 move from the generally vertically biasedorientation to a rotated operational orientation with the pan 2positioned between the spaced pair of uprights 32, the uprights 32rotated angularly from the biased position.

An embodiment of the cross member 34 is illustrated in FIG. 3, the crossmember 34 including an upper arm 36 and a lower arm 38, with the upperarm 36 positioned beneath the bottom surface 6, while the lower arm 38is illustrated with two portions forming a pair of angularly decliningframe members. Each frame member intersects at the v shaped slot 42 andextends toward the uprights 32. The v shaped slot 42 is formed betweenthe upper and lower arms, each frame member extending from thevertically positioned handle to the pair of uprights 32.

The handle 44 is extends along a central longitudinal axis 32 associatedwith the uniform pan holder assembly 20. The handle 44 is illustratedhaving a cylindrical configuration with a grip 48 and a curb 46encircling the upper portion of the grip 48 and separating the grip 48from the cross member 34. The handle 44 may be fabricated from a varietyof materials including, but not limited to, wood, plastic or metal, forexample. The handle 44 may also include a number of alternativeconfigurations, including those with a regular, irregular, ergonomic ordecorative design.

FIG. 4 illustrates a receiver 50 perpendicularly orientated with respectto the cross member 34, the receiver 50 extending outwardly from thecross member 34 and generally adapted for lateral alignment of the pan2. While the cross members 34 provide longitudinal support of the pan 2,the receiver 50 laterally aligns the pan 2, supporting the pan 2 alongthe cross members 34 limiting movement of the pan 2. The receiver 50depicted in FIG. 4 includes a front member 52 and rear member 54, thefront member extending from the cross member 34 towards the front 2 aand the rear member 54 extending from the cross member 34 towards therear 2 b, the front member 52 and rear member 54 being disposedsubstantially normal to the cross member 34. Generally the front andrear members 52, 54 are sized sufficiently to support the pan. Asillustrated, the front and rear members 52, 54 are each approximatelyone-half the width of the bottom surface 6. The front and rear members52, 54 generally terminate at the vertically extending portion 60 which,as illustrated, generally extends vertically along the sidewall 8, atleast partly traversing the front 2 a and rear 2 b.

FIG. 4 a illustrates the side of the uniform pan holder assembly 20 inan upright configuration while FIGS. 4 b and 4 c illustrate analternative embodiment of the uniform pan holder assembly 120 incombination with the drywall tool 10 located beneath the bottom surface6 of the pan 2. As depicted, the drywall tool 10 is a commerciallyavailable spackling tool with a handle and a blade used for applying thedrywall compound to a wall material during the drywall process. Althougha variety of configurations may be utilized by the present invention,preferably the drywall tool 10 is generally received between the upperand lower arms 136, 138 at the v-shaped slot (not shown). The v-shapedslot, being generally configured for releasably securing the drywalltool 10 below the bottom surface 6 for easy and convenient access to thedrywall tool 10 for use with the pan positioned above the drywall tool10 by the receiver 150 during the drywall process.

FIG. 5 illustrates the bottom view of the uniform pan holder assembly20. The bottom surface 6 is generally positioned between the pair ofuprights 32 along the cross member 32, the pan 2 being generally alignedwithin the receiver 50 by a first and a second prong 56, 58, eachextending outwardly from the cross member 34. In general, the first andsecond prong 56, 58 generally includes a front member 52 and a rearmember 54, both extending from the cross member 34 along the bottomsurface 6. In FIG. 5 the handle 44 extends away from bottom surface 6while in FIG. 6 the handle 44 is illustrated opposite the top edge 4.The vertically extending portion 60 associated with the receiver 50 isalso illustrated in FIG. 6 whereby the front and rear members 52, 54extend outwardly from the cross member 34 towards the verticallyextending portion 60. Alternatively, the receiver 50 may include anumber of prongs or other structures for retaining and aligning the pan2 generally within the support area 22.

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examplesincluding presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variationsand permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fallwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in theappended claims.

1. A uniform pan holder assembly adapted for receiving a pan with a topedge opposite a bottom surface, said uniform pan holder assemblycomprising: a support including a pair of uprights spanning a crossmember, each said upright extending vertically from said cross memberand terminating at an arcuate edge, said pair of uprights and crossmember defining a supporting area, and each said arcuate edge beinggenerally associated with said top edge and being adapted for retainingsaid pan within said supporting area.
 2. The uniform pan holder assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein said pair of uprights and cross member areangularly orientated and define a supporting area adapted for supportingsaid pan.
 3. The uniform pan holder assembly according to claim 2wherein said supporting area further includes a receiver extending fromsaid cross member, said receiver including front and rear spaced membersmounted on said cross member and configured for aligning said pan. 4.The uniform pan holder assembly of claim 3 wherein said receiver furthercomprises at least two prongs, a first prong extending forwardly fromsaid cross member and a second prong extending rearwardly from saidcross member said first and second prongs being perpendicular to saidcross member and adapted to align said pan bottom surface with saidcross member.
 5. The uniform pan holder assembly of claim 4 wherein saidprongs further comprise a vertically extending portion associated with adistal end, opposite said cross member and associated with a sidewallextending from said bottom surface towards said top edge.
 6. The uniformpan holder assembly of claim 1 wherein said uprights angularly rotatefrom a vertically biased orientation to an operational orientation withsaid pan supported between said uprights.
 7. The uniform pan holderassembly of claim 1 wherein said uprights further include a distal endand a proximate end, said distal end associated with said arcuate edgeand said proximate end associated with said cross member.
 8. The uniformpan holder assembly of claim 7 wherein said distal end further includesa ridged structure and said proximate end further includes a socketadapted to receive said ridged structure.
 9. The uniform pan holderassembly of claim 1 wherein said support further includes a handleconnected to and extending downwardly from said cross member.
 10. Theuniform pan holder assembly of claim 1 wherein said cross member furthercomprises an upper arm and a lower arm in spaced relations and forming av-shaped slot adapted for releasably receiving a drywall tool.
 11. Incombination, a pan having a top edge and bottom surface, a uniform panholder assembly adapted to receive said pan and a drywall toolretrievably stored within said uniform pan holder assembly, comprising:said pan, said drywall tool, and said uniform pan holder assemblyincluding a pair of uprights spanning a cross member having an upper andlower arm in spaced relation and forming a v-shaped slot adapted forreleasably receiving said drywall tool, wherein each said uprightextends vertically from said cross member and terminates at an arcuateedge, said pair of uprights and cross member defining a supporting areaadapted for receiving said pan, said arcuate edge adapted for releasablyengaging said top edge.
 12. The combination of claim 9 wherein saidsupporting area further including least two prongs, a first prongextending forwardly from said cross member and a second prong extendingrearwardly from said cross member said first and second prongs normal tosaid cross member and adapted to align said bottom surface with saidcross member.
 13. A method for applying drywall compound from a pan to awall material comprising the steps of: providing a uniform pan holderassembly including a pair of uprights spanning a cross member, each saidupright extending vertically from said cross member and terminating atan arcuate edge, said pair of uprights and cross member defining asupporting area, positioning said pan within said supporting area, saidpan having a front and rear generally parallel to each other andseparated by a bottom surface, said front and rear joined by a pair ofsides, a top edge located opposite said bottom surface, said side, frontand rear forming a sidewall around said bottom surface adapted forreceiving the drywall compound, aligning said pan transversely withinsaid supporting area by a receiver having at least two prongs, a firstprong extending forwardly from said cross member and a second prongextending rearwardly from said cross member said first and second prongsbeing perpendicular to said cross member, engaging said top edge of saidpan within said uniform pan holder assembly at said arcuate edge,grasping said uniform pan holder assembly using a handle connected toand extending downwardly from said cross member, releasably storing adrywall tool within a v-shaped slot of said cross member formed at theoverlap of an upper arm spaced from a lower arm extending into saidhandle, rotating said uniform pan holder assembly using said handle formanipulating said drywall compound received within said pan, by applyingpressure with said drywall tool until the desired drywall compoundconsistency is achieved, and spreading said manipulated drywall compoundupon said wall material with said drywall tool.